LGD - Visual Language: A 19th Century Comet in Fiji

Visual Language
A 19th Century Comet in Fiji

by Mara Jevera Fulmer
Assistant Professor/Program Coordinator in Graphic Design
C.S. Mott Community College, Flint, MI
(Formerly Art Director for The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji)

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In addition, using mathematical equations that have been refined since Thomson's day, the scientists at the observatory concluded that a near total eclipse would have been visible in Suva (now Fiji's capital on the island of Viti Levu) on 19 November 1817 from 2:42 to 5:31 pm local time, but would have been total in various places around the islands of Fiji. The next total eclipse they mention did not occur until 1893.

It appears from these various accounts that:

1) At least one foreign vessel, one named Argo, was wrecked on Bukatatanoa Reef in the early years of the 19th century.
2) A wreck on that reef is associated with the onslaught of Asian Cholera, or lilabalavua, the "wasting sickness."
3) A wreck and the sickness are associated with a three-tailed comet.
4) Some time after the cholera epidemic began, a total solar eclipse of the sun occurred.

It is the conclusion of this writer that the various tragedies associated with the wreck, cholera, comet and eclipse (among other disasters), were combined as part of the oral tradition, with the story passed down from one generation to another. The Cakaudrove masikesa, showing the variations in the comet, the central blank circle, and the heavy chevron patterns, may have been a visual record of these various dark evens in Fiji's history. A strong cross-disciplinary study could be made to determine further relationships between historical and/or celestial evens and designs used in traditional handicrafts.

The substance of this article was prepared as part of a Master's thesis titled "Symbols & Patterns of Grassroots Culture in the Fiji Islands" submitted to Syracuse University in August 1996. Future plans include the revision and adaptation of this "visual dictionary" for use on this website. Check back in the future to further progress.

REFERENCES

Beauclerc, GAGW. 1911. The Shipwreck on Bukatatanoa and the Lilabalavu. Transactions of the Fijian Society for the Year 1911. AG Griffiths Print, Suva, Fiji.
Derrick, RA. 1946. A History of Fiji: Volume One. Government Printery, Suva, Fiji.
Leonard, Anne & John Terrell. 1980. Patterns of Paradise: The Styles and Significance of Bark Cloth Around the World. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Taylor, Peter. 1982. Australia: The First Twelve Years. George Allen & Unwin, Sydney, Australia.
Thomson, Basil. 1908. The Fijians: A Study of the Decay of Custom. William Heinemann, London, UK.
Wilkes, Charles. 1845. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, during the years 1838-1842. 5 vols + atlas. Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

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This article was originally published as "Visual Language: A 19th Century Example" in Domodomo, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1996, a scholarly journal of the Fiji Museum.